+1: The Flat Tire | And the Ultimate Question: What Do You Want? (#1261)

In our last couple +1s, we’ve been chatting about Trevor Moawad’s wisdom on what he calls “neutral thinking.”

 

We started by hanging out with Russell Wilson en route to winning a Super Bowl. Then we visited the Johnson Ranch to discuss my relationship with our new chickens and their poop.

 

(Yes, I can’t get enough of those emojis…)

 

So…

 

The morning after that chat I had with Emerson about how to approach the chicken situation either negatively, positively, or neutrally, we were doing our family workout—which currently features me chasing the kids on their bikes as we have fun going around the 1/2-mile Trail-loop we created around our property. 

 

Only…

 

This morning, Emerson’s bike had a flat tire. 

 

He immediately started crying—super bummed he wouldn’t be able to ride his epic lime green (lol) bike around the Trail as planned.

 

So…

 

I cruised over and said, “Buddy! Your tire’s flat. That’s a bummer. I get it. And.. Remember that chat we had last night about neutral thinking?” 

 

Emerson: “Yah.”

 

Me: “Well…. Let’s get neutral! WHAT DO YOU WANT?”

 

He said, “To ride my bike.” 

 

I said, “Exactly. So what can we do to make that happen?” 

 

He said, “Get the bike pump and fill up the tire.” 

 

I said, “Exactly.” 

 

We cruised into the barn, found it. Pumped up the tire. The air surprisingly held. 

 

 

Tire was filled. He was off to the Trail races.

 

And, that’s Today’s +1.

 

Got any metaphorical flat tires in your life?

 

(Echo: Of course you do. You’re human!)

 

How are you reacting? 

 

Negatively? Positively? Neutrally?

 

Back to Trevor: “That’s neutral. Staying in the moment, giving each moment its own history, and reacting to events as they unfold. It takes away emotion and replaces it with behaviors. Instead of asking, ‘How do I feel?’ you should be asking yourself, ‘What do I do?’”

 

You can develop these skills if you’re willing to let go of a few things. Negative, cynical thinking doesn’t make you more realistic. It just makes you negative and cynical. Biased thinking doesn’t help you either. You need to steer clear of your feelings and make an honest assessment of each situation you face. Don’t worry about what you feel. Rely on what you know.”

 

Back to you.

 

NEUTRAL thinking. 

 

It works.

 

Try it.

 

TODAY.